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John
I am looking for a good reliable used Tek scope to learn on and use
for amateur radio repairs. I see many up for sale on eBay and would welcome any advice on which I should consider, and which should be avoided due to common problems, or inavailability of parts. I would like to spend up to $200, but would possibly consider going as high as $350 if there is a compelling reason to do so. Thanks in advance for your advice and counsel. John |
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John
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For a beginner scope I would vote for the 2213 or 2213A. It is portable, light weight and there are lots of them for sale at a very reasonable price.They contain very few "custom" parts inside. Manuals, probes and parts are easily found just because of the sheer numbers of them built. As scopes go they are relatively easy to work on and trouble shoot if you have to. Next up in the food chain are the 76Xx, 77XX and 7904's. Again these can be had for under $200 and the plug-ins go very cheaply as well. They are bigger. much heavier, But the added flexibility of having over 50 different plug-ins to choose from gives you the ability to upgrade for special applications over time. Again Manuals and Parts are pretty available Dave
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John - while I am a relative novice compared to some of the guys on this
reflector, my opinion is that your scope choice may depend upon what frequency amateur equipment you plan on working on. My first Tek scope was/is a 453A, which has a 60 MHz bandwidth. That scope has been fantastic and completely satisfactory for rudimentary High Frequency (ie up to 30 MHz) radio troubleshooting. I also use my 453A to analyze the modulation on my HF AM signal on transmit by "picking off" some of the rf going to the antenna through a Bird sampler. However, when you put that scope on a HP signal generator and crank it up to frequencies above 2x 30 MHz, it is clear that it does attenuate above 60 MHz. If you are working on VHF or UHF gear, you may want to ask other listers whether a higher bandwidth scope is more appropriate. Only other suggestion is that, since there are tons of great Tek analog scopes on the market, take your time and try to get one that is in really nice condition. Some of the surplus scopes out there have had a full life and are sort of worn out. One the other hand, you can find older scopes like my 453A in the original Tek box and styrofoam shipping container, with all manuals, original probes in the bags, etc. Hope this was helpful, Tim N5IIT "John" <NYCSPIRIT@...> 02/27/2004 10:10 AM To: TekScopes@... cc: Subject: [TekScopes] Recommendations? I am looking for a good reliable used Tek scope to learn on and use for amateur radio repairs. I see many up for sale on eBay and would welcome any advice on which I should consider, and which should be avoided due to common problems, or inavailability of parts. I would like to spend up to $200, but would possibly consider going as high as $350 if there is a compelling reason to do so. Thanks in advance for your advice and counsel. John Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: TekScopes-unsubscribe@... Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. ________________________________________________________________________ The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer. Notice required by law: This e-mail may constitute an advertisement or solicitation under U.S. law, if its primary purpose is to advertise or promote a commercial product or service. You may choose not to receive advertising and promotional messages from Ernst & Young LLP (except for Ernst & Young Online and the ey.com website, which track e-mail preferences through a separate process) at this e-mail address by forwarding this message to no-more-mail@.... If you do so, the sender of this message will be notified promptly, and messages designated as advertising or promotional will be automatically blocked once necessary modifications to our e-mail system have been completed. Our principal postal address is 5 Times Square, New York, NY 10036.Thank you. Ernst & Young LLP |
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In that price range, you should be able to do pretty well. Pay attention to any local ham radio swap meets, electronic surplus stores, or Ebay as a last resort (can you tell I believe in supporting local efforts first?) ;-)
You don't specify if you're looking for a "lab" or benchtop 'scope, or if a luggable is more your style. In the case of the benchtop systems, the 7000 series is probably still one of the best buys around. Tek made them for over two decades; Mainframes and plug-ins are still pretty widely available, and they're one of the most versatile 'scope series ever to hit the industry. Benchtops first. For signals up to 100MHz: 7603 mainframe, 7B53A timebase, 7A26 vertical. For signals up to 200 or so MHz: 7704 or 7704A mainframe, 7B80 or 7B85 timebase, 7A26 vertical (it's good up to 250MHz). Keep in mind that, for the following frames and plug-ins, you may well exceed your stated price point. For signals up to 400-500MHz: 7854, 7834 (storage), 7904, or 7904A mainframes, 7B92A AND 7B85 timebases, 7A24 vertical (50 ohm inputs, suggest using a FET probe), 7A26 (you can still use them in the higher-bandwidth mainframes) for high-impedance (1M-ohm) input. The 7A24 goes up to 400MHz, and you can also try for a 7A29. For signals up to a gig: 7104 mainframe, 7B10 AND 7B15 timebases, 7A29 vertical for high-frequency signals, 7A24 or 7A26 for lower-end stuff. Note that, if you get a storage-type frame (such as the 7834), the CRTs are very susceptible to damage (burn-in and other nastiness). Unless you have an explicit need for an analog storage 'scope, it is probably best to avoid them. Most digital-type storage 'scopes do not suffer from the same CRT fragility problems. This would include units like the 468, many of the 11000 series, the DSA600 series, and pretty much everything that comes after it. For a 'luggable:' It's still pretty hard to beat the 465, 475, and 485 series. The 475A will go up to 250MHz. I should also mention that the 460 and 470 series were widely used as field-service 'scopes by many a computer tech in the late 70's through the early-to-mid 80's. Your price point should work for pretty much anything in this series with the possible exception of a 485, or a mint-condition specimen of the other series. Happy hunting. * REPLY SEPARATOR * On 27-Feb-04 at 15:10 John wrote: I am looking for a good reliable used Tek scope to learn on and use -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner & Head Hardware Heavy, Blue Feather Technologies -- kyrrin (at) bluefeathertech do/t c=o=m "If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped with surreal ports?" |
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I would second Bruce's comments on a local purchase. It is very good on your first scope to be able to play before you buy.
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You can make sure that tube is good etc. A dealer selling a $200.00 scope on ebay can not afford to spend much more time than plugging it in and seeing if there is is a trace. To properly check scope take around a hour, to verify the calibration much longer. Try and find a local source for your first scope. Remember you need a scope to fix a scope !!! Regards, John ---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Bruce Lane" <kyrrin@...> Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 07:48:03 -0800 In that price range, you should be able to do pretty well. Pay attention to any local ham radio swap meets, electronic surplus stores, or Ebay as a last resort (can you tell I believe in supporting local efforts first?) ;-) |
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Although there are many such vendors on eBay, the scopes I am planning on
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marketing will be fully tested and supplied with a manual and at least 1 Tektronix probe. I have invested heavily in calibration equipment, pulse & function generators, etc. to insure functionality and proper operation (and because I like having lots of equipment). I have made whatever repairs necessary. I do this more as hobby than a profit center so I don't count the many hours some instruments require as part of the price. The photos I provide are not the grainy, out of focus, non-operating bogus photos that many post (and who knows what instrument they were photographing). Mine are guaranteed to be of the actual intrument with actual waveforms displayed on the instrument. This is a win win situation, I enjoy the troubleshooting and refurbishing and want to pass an instrument along that will bring as much joy and satisfaction as I have had getting it there. Right now I have a variety of scopes in inventory: 453A, 465, 465B, 466, 475, 561B(x2), 647A and an OS 245P/U. For my personal use I have a 7603, 465B/DM44, 335 and a 323. I am accumulating a variety of TM series modules as well and may release some for sale later this year. -----Original Message-----
From: jbarnes [mailto:jbarnes@...] Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 9:14 AM To: tekscopes@...; Bruce Lane Subject: Re: [TekScopes] Recommendations? I would second Bruce's comments on a local purchase. It is very good on your first scope to be able to play before you buy. You can make sure that tube is good etc. A dealer selling a $200.00 scope on ebay can not afford to spend much more time than plugging it in and seeing if there is is a trace. To properly check scope take around a hour, to verify the calibration much longer. Try and find a local source for your first scope. Remember you need a scope to fix a scope !!! Regards, John ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Bruce Lane" <kyrrin@...> Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 07:48:03 -0800 > In that price range, you should be able to do pretty well. Pay attention to any local ham radio swap meets, electronic surplus stores, or Ebay as a last resort (can you tell I believe in supporting local efforts first?) ;-) > > You don't specify if you're looking for a "lab" or benchtop 'scope, or if a luggable is more your style. In the case of the benchtop systems, the 7000 series is probably still one of the best buys around. Tek made them for over two decades; Mainframes and plug-ins are still pretty widely available, and they're one of the most versatile 'scope series ever to hit the industry. > > Benchtops first. > > For signals up to 100MHz: 7603 mainframe, 7B53A timebase, 7A26 vertical. > > For signals up to 200 or so MHz: 7704 or 7704A mainframe, 7B80 or 7B85 timebase, 7A26 vertical (it's good up to 250MHz). > > Keep in mind that, for the following frames and plug-ins, you may well exceed your stated price point. > > For signals up to 400-500MHz: 7854, 7834 (storage), 7904, or 7904A mainframes, 7B92A AND 7B85 timebases, 7A24 vertical (50 ohm inputs, suggest using a FET probe), 7A26 (you can still use them in the higher-bandwidth mainframes) for high-impedance (1M-ohm) input. The 7A24 goes up to 400MHz, and you can also try for a 7A29. > > For signals up to a gig: 7104 mainframe, 7B10 AND 7B15 timebases, 7A29 vertical for high-frequency signals, 7A24 or 7A26 for lower-end stuff. > > Note that, if you get a storage-type frame (such as the 7834), the CRTs are very susceptible to damage (burn-in and other nastiness). Unless you have an explicit need for an analog storage 'scope, it is probably best to avoid them. > > Most digital-type storage 'scopes do not suffer from the same CRT fragility problems. This would include units like the 468, many of the 11000 series, the DSA600 series, and pretty much everything that comes after it. > > For a 'luggable:' It's still pretty hard to beat the 465, 475, and 485 series. The 475A will go up to 250MHz. I should also mention that the 460 and 470 series were widely used as field-service 'scopes by many a computer tech in the late 70's through the early-to-mid 80's. Your price point should work for pretty much anything in this series with the possible exception of a 485, or a mint-condition specimen of the other series. > > Happy hunting. > >* REPLY SEPARATOR * > >On 27-Feb-04 at 15:10 John wrote: > >>I am looking for a good reliable used Tek scope to learn on and use >>for amateur radio repairs. I see many up for sale on eBay and would >>welcome any advice on which I should consider, and which should be >>avoided due to common problems, or inavailability of parts. I would >>like to spend up to $200, but would possibly consider going as high >>as $350 if there is a compelling reason to do so. Thanks in advance >>for your advice and counsel. >> >>John >> >> >> >> >>Yahoo! Groups Links >> >> >> > > >-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- >Bruce Lane, Owner & Head Hardware Heavy, >Blue Feather Technologies -- >kyrrin (at) bluefeathertech do/t c=o=m >"If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped with surreal ports?" > > > > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: TekScopes-unsubscribe@... c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. |
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Jeff W
I have the same outlook as Gary. I have bought & sold a number of
Tek scopes & have quite a good selection of test equipment to test functionality & calibrate them. Anytime I put a scope I've fixed & calibrated up on eBay, I stand behind it 100%. Some scopes I've sold have had some problems that wasn't worth me monkeying around with it, but I note the problems clearly and sell those scopes as-is or as parts units. I, like Gary, am in it for the hobby aspect of fixing up a non-working scope that someone can use. I cannot justify it as a money making effort given the time I put into it. So I consider the persons buying my scopes for a reasonable price as fortunate that someone has taken the effort to fix, clean & calibrate them. Of course, I cannot sell my items as being "in calibration" because most of my test equipment is out of calibration. But I have certain key test equipment in cal, a very accurate Fluke DMM, leveled sine generator to 900 Mhz, etc., that I check my other equipment to. And as far as horizontal timing, there are plenty of tricks I use to check my frequency source, like using WVVB, and zero-beating local AM stations for the higher frequency checks. While arguably not super precise, it is good enough for scopes that are only accurate in the 1 to 3% range anyway. Jeff "Gary Allsebrook" <regman10@c...> wrote: Although there are many such vendors on eBay, the scopes I amplanning on marketing will be fully tested and supplied with a manual and atleast 1 Tektronix probe. I have invested heavily in calibration equipment,pulse & function generators, etc. to insure functionality and properoperation (and because I like having lots of equipment). I have made whateverrepairs necessary. I do this more as hobby than a profit center so I don'tcount the many hours some instruments require as part of the price. Thephotos I provide are not the grainy, out of focus, non-operating bogusphotos that many post (and who knows what instrument they were photographing).Mine are guaranteed to be of the actual intrument with actual waveformsdisplayed on the instrument. This is a win win situation, I enjoy thetroubleshooting and refurbishing and want to pass an instrument along that willbring as much joy and satisfaction as I have had getting it there. |
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Craig Sawyers
because I like having lots of equipment). I have made whatever repairsHear hear! Me too. I'm congenitally incapable of selling something that either I know doesn't work, or that I haven't tested. If I'm selling a sampling system, I show photos of the actual unit showing the response to a 30ps rise pulse. If a storage scope, I show a stored trace. This isn't a business for me - I actually *enjoy* fixing things. Gives you a real buzz to get under the original designer's skin - the things they did well, and the short cuts taken too. Like the 7B15 I've just checked over (for my own use) with an electrolytic with the end bulging - because the assembly tech put it in the wrong way round when it was originally built. I've got three 7T11's with quirky habits and three 7S11 with oddities - and I won't put these on eBay until they are fixed. Did the same process with an old Jaguar V12 saloon (sedan) I have - rebuilt it stem to stern. Quite daunting when you end up with a V12 engine in an awful lot of parts - and boy is that a set of compromises - a superb engine using a GM400 gearbox, with horrendous cost cutting everywhere else. Death by Lucas, the prince of darkness. Enjoy driving it now in the fine weather - the UK is a total salt belt in the winter. Craig |
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Oddly enough, I enjoy the fixer uppers the best! I am almost dissapointed
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when they come in in too good a shape. Like you I also show storage trace photos also if it's a storage scope. It helps me to develop and refine my troubleshooting chops. I also restore vintage tube equipment (or valve if you like) My latest being a 1938 Wurlitzer organ in a church. The way I look at it if you can repair complex test equipment you can fix anything! What I don't understand is why people still use analog o'scopes for quantitative measurement with all of the good surplus counters and DMM's out there. I use my scopes mainly for displaying electrical/electronic anomolies. -----Original Message-----
From: Craig Sawyers [mailto:c.sawyers@...] Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 12:11 PM To: tekscopes@...; Bruce Lane Subject: RE: [TekScopes] Recommendations? > because I like having lots of equipment). I have made whatever repairs > necessary. I do this more as hobby than a profit center so I don't count > the many hours some instruments require as part of the price. > The photos I > provide are not the grainy, out of focus, non-operating bogus photos that > many post (and who knows what instrument they were > photographing). Mine are > guaranteed to be of the actual intrument with actual waveforms > displayed on > the instrument. This is a win win situation, I enjoy the troubleshooting > and refurbishing and want to pass an instrument along that will bring as > much joy and satisfaction as I have had getting it there. Hear hear! Me too. I'm congenitally incapable of selling something that either I know doesn't work, or that I haven't tested. If I'm selling a sampling system, I show photos of the actual unit showing the response to a 30ps rise pulse. If a storage scope, I show a stored trace. This isn't a business for me - I actually *enjoy* fixing things. Gives you a real buzz to get under the original designer's skin - the things they did well, and the short cuts taken too. Like the 7B15 I've just checked over (for my own use) with an electrolytic with the end bulging - because the assembly tech put it in the wrong way round when it was originally built. I've got three 7T11's with quirky habits and three 7S11 with oddities - and I won't put these on eBay until they are fixed. Did the same process with an old Jaguar V12 saloon (sedan) I have - rebuilt it stem to stern. Quite daunting when you end up with a V12 engine in an awful lot of parts - and boy is that a set of compromises - a superb engine using a GM400 gearbox, with horrendous cost cutting everywhere else. Death by Lucas, the prince of darkness. Enjoy driving it now in the fine weather - the UK is a total salt belt in the winter. Craig Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: TekScopes-unsubscribe@... c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. |
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John,
Since this will be your first and only scope, for a while, try to get a scope from a seller willing to say it was thoroughly checked out. Most eBay scopes have problems - great for me, since I like fixing them. Bad for you. And these scopes have many functions that you will eventually want to learn to use. A scope shown displaying a signal may still have many problems. A scope guaranteed to be in decent condition will probably (SWAG alert) cost 50% to 100% more than a scope that "powers up and displays a signal". Fixer-upper/parts scopes are for fools like me. Unless you are dealing with freqs over 50 MHz, most the old Tek analog scopes will do you well. Larger screens are nice, but not as important for you as guaranteed workability. Newer scopes will usually have fewer aging problems and larger screens, but their prices go up rapidly while actually providing few new operational features. In other words, I would place condition above the actual model type for your purposes. Good luck. -Howard --- In TekScopes@..., "John" <NYCSPIRIT@R...> wrote: I am looking for a good reliable used Tek scope to learn on anduse for amateur radio repairs. I see many up for sale on eBay andwould welcome any advice on which I should consider, and which should bewould like to spend up to $200, but would possibly consider going ashigh as $350 if there is a compelling reason to do so. Thanks inadvance for your advice and counsel. |
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Denis Cobley
I would recommend the 2235.
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Cheap, reliable, easy to use and repair if needed. Regards Denis Cobley ----- Original Message -----
From: "John" <NYCSPIRIT@...> To: <TekScopes@...> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2004 2:10 AM Subject: [TekScopes] Recommendations? I am looking for a good reliable used Tek scope to learn on and use |
Bruce Lane
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